Thanksgiving

Boy do I love Thanksgiving! I celebrated this year with my husband's family, where the afternoon began with loading our plates full of turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and green bean casserole, among other comfort foods. That's the true Thanksgiving way, no salad necessary. Then it was time for football. Flag football, family version; the sisters, the kids, and even great grandpa played their hearts out while I watched from a nearby window. In the end they came out with two busted lips and a couple of screaming children, not bad for your typical family gathering. After that we were able to enjoy the Cowboy's victory against the Sea Hawks. We wrapped up the evening with a couple games of Rumikub and cards along with coffee and seconds on desserts. It's been a fun food filled week, but now my stomach is starting to turn on me (literally) and so I think that it is time to bring this feast to a close.


Baby Z ate his very first Thanksgiving meal, last year he was too little for table food.


He sat in a chair all by himself for the first time too. Here he is at the kiddie table with his cousins. I just can't believe how much he has grown up in one year.

CVS BLACK FRIDAY DEALS!!!

Okay, this is unbelievable. I didn't do any black friday shopping this year. Except I did go to 4 different CVS's and do 4 different transactions between my hometown and Fort Worth. I got $156.51 worth of items for 15 cents. 3 out of the 4 transactions I walked out paying nothing! Not only was I able to get some stuff we needed for free even though it wasn't on sale, but here is where it gets really good, I now have $40.23 in ECB's. This is double what I started with!!! I have never had this much store credit. So as you can see I am just a tiny bit excited about my week at CVS. I am sure they are going to hold out on us for a while now, but I am cool with that, I can ride this wave for a long time.

So how did I do it? I got a $5 off $30.00 coupon in my email, and it said only one coupon per transaction not per customer, so I used one every time, there is $20.00 right there. I also had $20.00 ECB's to begin with, and add to that tons of free after ECB items plus $25.00 in manufacturer coupons. CHA CHING!

2 Colgate total -2 $1 Q
Phillips ear buds
5 hour energy shots
3 Gatorades
2 Cover Girl foundations -2 $1 Q
Cobalt Gum
Axe shower gel
King Size kit kat
Soleil razor -$3 Q
Garnier towelletes
Maybeline foundation -$3 Q
Hersheys- free hershey Q
Aussie mousse -$1 Q
Aussie hair spray -$1 Q
2 Playtex -2 $1 Q
2 Schick Quattro -$4 Q -$2 Q
Universal remote
Axe Deodorant
Crest
Loreal lip gloss
Sally Hansen's nail polish
2 Revelon eye shadow - 2 $2

Froogie Boogie: Eat up those leftovers

One of the things that keeps me a frugal queen is my ability to use up leftovers. Somethings I prefer when they are reheated, like pizza. When we eat out I can count on getting at LEAST 2 meals out of whatever I order so I don't feel like I am wasting money. Some people dread Thanksgiving leftovers, they enjoy it the first go round, but after that it just looses it's appeal. My solution is to make delicious Turkey sandwiches. Here is what you need

Rolls
Turkey
cranberry sauce
cream cheese

You just cut the rolls in half spread the cream cheese on one end and and your cranberry and turkey. You adjust this dish to your own personal taste, I like to add stuffing, or even ham. Either way, it is a tasty alternative to just nuking the same old thing over and over again. Bon Appetit.

You know you've had too much Turkey when...

I swear I didn't have any alcohol with my thanksgiving meal, but it sure has been quite a day and I think the fatigue is setting in because I just wrote this whole blog in my yahoo email account. No joke I put the title in the subject line and typed it all out and it wasn't until I went to edit that I realized I was not at blogger.com! Anyway here is what the "email" said,

I hope everyone had a happy and delicious Thanksgiving day. I celebrated with my husbands family. There was a ton of great food and my little contribution was Chocolate Eclair Dessert. Here is the recipe

CHOCOLATE ECLAIR DESSERT

2 (3.4 oz.) pkgs. instant French vanilla pudding
3 c. cold milk
9 oz. container Cool Whip
Graham crackers

ICING:

1 1/3 c. powdered sugar
5 tbsp. cocoa
2 tbsp. salad oil
1 tbsp. vanilla
3 tbsp. Karo syrup (white)
2 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. milk

Mix the pudding, milk and Cool Whip. Layer the bottom of a 9"x13" pan with a single layer of graham crackers. Place 1/2 of the pudding mixture on top
of the graham cracker. Spread pudding mixture evenly. Cover with second
layer of graham crackers. Place remaining pudding over second layer of
graham cracker. Spread evenly and cover with final layer of graham crackers.
Refrigerate at least 1 hour before icing.
Mix icing in the following order: powdered sugar, cocoa, oil, vanilla,
Karo, butter and milk. Spread and smooth over top layer of graham crackers.
Refrigerate at least 2 hours. May be made the day before serving.


I had another recipe that had more of a ganache like topping which I prefer, and if I find that version I will post it.

I guess I better get some rest. Happy Thanksgiving!

French Dressing

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the history and tradition. While I couldn’t even tell you where all of my ancestors are from, I do know that I am half French Candadian. My mom’s parents came to America from Montreal.

I don’t know a lot about the history there, but the one French Candadian tradition that did get passed down through my mom’s family is French Dressing. Contrary to what it sounds like it has nothing to do with salad dressing. It is more like the american version of stuffing, but with meat and potatoes and is traditionally served on Thanksgiving Day known as le Jour de Merci Donnan. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients
2 lbs. ground beef
1 lb. ground pork
6 medium potatoes ( 2 potatoes per pound)
1 onion, finely chopped
1 Cup water
1 tsp. poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp. cloves
3/4 tsp. all spice
salt and pepper to taste


Prep
Cube Potatoes.
Finely chop onion.
Add all of the ingredients to a large kettle.
Cook over a medium heat for about one hour until meat is cooked and potatoes are tender.
Remove from heat. Spoon off about one-half cup of drippings and discard.
Mash the potatoes and stir mixture.



What about you? Do you have any unordinary Thanksgiving foods that are traditional for your family?

More Starbucks

If you are needing a boost to get yourself going before the big thanksgiving meal Starbucks will be open. You will have to check your local shops, but most have modified holiday hours. Where I live (Ellis county, Texas) they are open from 6:00 am-5:00 pm. Or better yet Black Friday shoppers are sure to need a pick me up at some point in the day and you can count on every one's favorite addiction to be there to serve you. The day after Thanksgiving Starbucks will be open with extended hours and a fully equipped barista staff! I am all about a toasty warm beverage during the holidays. Here is a list of my top winter drinks from Starbucks, along with the at home version, which I myself have yet to try, but look forward to doing so.

1. The Eggnog Chai Latte- Although it may not be on the menu one of my favorite baristas introduced me to it last night and I was very impressed with this creative concoction. I already love the chai latte, I opt for a creamier version by asking for the "no water chai". With the holiday season upon us I would now recommend trying the eggnog version. YUM!

To make this one at home you can pick up the chai tea latte mix at most grocery stores (I use the Oregon Chai) and make it with eggnog. Or if you are a wimp like me you can do half milk half eggnog.

2. Pumpkin Spice Latte- You know it's that time of year again when the pumpkin spice latte returns to the menu. This is a nick name I have for my son, because it was my drink of choice around the time he was born. Most parents call their cutie pumpkin and for me pumpkin spice latte just rolls off the tongue. Anyway, this drink is the traditional latte with the added flavor of pumpkin spices. I just found this crock pot recipe on another blog, which definitely sounds like something worth trying.

A Year of CrockPotting: CrockPot Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

3. The Salted Carmel Signature Hot Chocolate is mouth watering good. It's creamy, buttery, sweet and salty. I drink it as if I were a wine connoisseur letting it sit on my tongue to take in all the flavor before swallowing. Ah, it's expensive, it's almost 500 calories, and well it's the holidays what can say?

Check out this copy cat recipe to make it yourself.

Never underestimate the euphoria of a nice hot beverage on a cold winter day. Enjoy!

Look Back and Laugh: Drive Thru

Every time I go through a Starbucks drive thru I am a little self conscious. One time my husband and I were placing our order and the barista came over the speaker saying "Hi this Fabian what can I get for you?" My husband flipped out, because he calls people Fabian when he gets road rage. Don't ask why, but it's better than some other words he could use. Anyway, so he looks at me and he is pointing and mouthing "oh my gosh" because we are both surprised that we have come into contact with an actual Fabian. Our little silent outburst was interrupted by the words "I saw that" over the intercom. We immediately freeze. As it turns out they have cameras, not just the kind that can see your car, but they can actually see YOU! Fabian was actually a really nice guy and we talked with him for a while at the window. From now on though, I am on my best behavior anytime I go through a drive thru.

FOOD

I went grocery shopping today. Usually Monday at noon would be a good time to go because hardly anyone is there, but not today. With Thanksgiving only 3 days away, the place was a mad house. I didn't even think about that, luckily H.E.B did. They had extra employees working hard at restocking, bagging, and they even had a special assistant in the baking good aisle to help you find whatever it was you were looking for. In my case this was vanilla pudding, white chocolate chips, and cocoa. I will be sharing more about what I did with these items later this week.

I will admit I originally had all these ideas in my head about what I would be writing about this week, like thankfulness or family. While watching all the shoppers scurry about loading their carts with the usual thanksgiving goodies, I decided to go a different route at the last minute. "Who am I kidding?" I thought to myself. It's thanksgiving and I am going to write about food. I had an entire week on my blog dedicated to eating healthy, so it would only be fair to equally represent the other side of our cultural cuisine. Thanksgiving week is perfect timing. It's the kick off day for starting to binge on all the stuff that you swear off at the beginning of the year. I think it's more than just a coincidence that our holiday mascot is a fat guy that loves milk and cookies. So it's time to say HELLO marshmallow and sweet potato! Oh and cranberry sauce, and wassail, and cherry cordials too... and pumpkin pie, okay I'll stop.

Blogging update

Almost 3 months ago I mapped out a general outline of what my blog post would consist of from week to week. Here we are 200 post later and I am ready to make some changes. Here is the modified version of the messy mom blog schedule.

Monday- Introduction of the theme for the week. If you have any topics that you would like to see on this site PLEASE share your ideas with me. You can leave a comment or email me at themessymom@gmail.com

Tuesday- “Look Back and Laugh”, a blog that I share funny/ embarrassing life stories. This is something I would LOVE to see become an open blog carnival. I probably won't have that kind of a following for a while, but until then feel free to post your own Look back and laugh story on your blog and put a link in the comments section. I could always use a good laugh.

Wednesday-Works for me Wednesday some weeks I will participate while others I may not, it depends on whether or not I have anything that works for me that day.


Thursday- “why I love” which is basically just my personal review of different products that I use. This will also vary it could be weekly or monthly, or neither. I guess it will be a surprise post.


Friday- Froogie Boogie a blog where I talk about ways to stretch a buck, sometimes this will also be a part of a blog carnival called “Frugal Friday’s”

Saturday- I will post my Super Savings for the week particularly CVS. It has nothing to do with the weekly topic and it is usually in code that only froogie's can understand. Eventually I plan on letting this one go, but at this point it is my most viewed weekly post, so I'll keep 'em coming.

Of course I will also be posting regular entries about the topic of the week on any given day. Or I may be blogging about a challenge that I have taken on such as the The Restless Night Syndrome or The Kitchen Chronicles. Oh, and we can't forget the monthly blog about the featured City of the Month because I love to talk about travel.



Thank you to all of my readers for all of your support and encouragement. This has been a fun venture. As always, comments, suggestions, ideas, or questions are all welcome.

Conclusion

All this week I have talked about the gadgets and gizmos that have become a part of our everyday lives. Sometimes I feel like we are living in the days of the Jetson’s. I am sure every generation feels like that at some point, with each new and improved invention. There is a part of me that thinks I must be getting old to be able to say things like “I remember when phones had chords”, but it is actually kind of cool. I never got to experience telegrams or spinning wheels, but the memories I do have will still always be considered simpler times. I can tell my grandchildren about how before there were cell phones you could go on vacation and there was almost no way anyone could reach you. The days when you played games in the car instead of watch movies and you would look up information in books instead of the internet. That is not to say that I would change the way things are now. To quote Kip from Napolean Dynamite “I still Love technology, always and forever”. However, sometimes the best thing to do is just step away from it all. Take out your ear buds, turn off your cell phone, put away the camera and just enjoy the moment. I am a mom now so I think I have earned the right to say things like that. I guess this would be a good time to quit typing and sign off…

CVS Deals for the Week

This week at CVS was FINALLY more of what I like to see. I spent $2.76 out of pocket and saved $64.06. Plus I have $20 in ECB’s, which means I “made money” and the AA batteries are something I desperately needed. I bought The Zantrex because it was free after ecb’s and I needed it to get my purchase to $30 in order to use my $5 coupon and still get all my money back.

1st Transaction

1 atkins bar- on sale for $1.00 -$1 Q
Loreal Age Perfect- $15.99 -$1 Q
2 Glade scented oil candles $6.39 each – B1G1 Q
Total after mnfc Q= $21.38
- $5.00 off Purchase of $30 CVS email Q
- $14.08 ECB’s

Total OOP= $2.30

2nd Transction

2 Hershey’s Dark chocolate .50 each – B1G1
1 Atkins bar $1 -$1Q
1 Zantrex 3 $4.99
4 packs of Duracell $5.99 eac –(4) .75 Q
Total after mnft Q =$26.45
-$5.00 off Purchase of $30 CVS Email Q
-$20.99 ECB’s

Total OOP= .46

My Mac Is Back

I mentioned at the beginning of the week that my computer was at the apple store being repaired. Well, after 4 long days without a laptop, it is back in my possession as good as new and I couldn’t be happier. Like much of my generation I am a Mac fanatic. The Apple brand has defiantly made an impact on our culture over the past ten years. It began in 1998 when Apple introduced an all-in-one Macintosh called the iMac. The success of the iMac was then followed by the iBook, iPod, and iphone to name a few. For me however, having a Mac isn’t about doing the trendy thing. It goes back further than the “i” movement. It’s a family thing.

It all started with my dad who was an electronics engineer student in the 1970's and a true pioneer in the field of graphic design. The first computer that he worked on was about the size of the average kitchen. It cost one and a half million dollars and was used strictly for graphics. It wasn't until the early 90's that he was introduced to world of Macintosh computers. He was so astonished by the ease of use and how much it simplified his work as a graphic artist that he made the switch from PC to Mac for life. His younger brother who is also a loyal member of the “Mac” family has the apple logo tattooed on his arm to show for it.

Everyone in my family; my husband, mom, dad, both brothers, and my brothers wife have a Mac laptop.


For Christmas last year my dad got each of us the latest operating system upgrade for our Macs.

You can make fun of us if you want. You wouldn’t be the first to call us geeks, but now you know why it is with great pride and exuberance that I announce that MY MAC IS BACK!

TIVO, HDTV, and Smart Phones

This week in talking about the technology that has shaped our culture over the last ten years I have mentioned, SMS, GPS, MP3, and DIGITAL CAMERAS. Why then am I lumping TIVO, HDTV and smart phones all into one category? What could these three things possibly have in common?

While these are all things that have played an important role in the technological advancements of past 10 years, they are also all things I personally have never owned. Okay, I am stretching this a little bit because my husband has an iPhone, but I don’t use it. In fact I inherited his old Motorola razor and that was actually a big upgrade for me.

Let’s start with the TIVO which premiered in 1999, but since then has resulted in the vast array of TV recorders today known as DVR’s. Since my husband and I have never had cable or satellite we have definitely never owned a DVR. There are times though, like last night when we were away at 8:00 and missed The Office, that I wish we had one. Although, we can watch The Office online today. I am probably one of those that if I had it I would say I couldn't live without it, and yet here I am proving myself wrong.

Then there is HDTV, which has to be one of the most significant changes in technology in the past 10 years considering it will be effecting everyone this February when all TV broadcasts will be switching to digital. This is another topic of which I am not qualified to talk about, because we still have rabbit ears and are considering forgoing the conversion altogether and just doing a voluntary television fast for a season. I was the one that suggested it, but I would be lying if I said that I don’t drool over plasma screens and eventually we hope to have one mounted above our fireplace.

Lastly, the smart phone, which is a phone that can do a bazillion things in addition to making and receiving calls. I think that pretty much sums up the ever so popular BlackBerry and iPhone. Yes, I want a smart phone, but it is the additional costs added to my monthly bill that keep me quite content to continue using my “stupid” phone for none other than the practical purpose of making and receiving phone calls.

Froogie Boogie: Savings for Mac User's

Since this week I am discussing technology, I thought I would share some frugal tips about my laptop.

My laptop is a huge part of my livelihood, having a Mac that was portable was the ideal situation for my business. So even though it might seem a bit extravagant to have a 17-inch Mac book pro you can bet that I did the best I could to score a good deal…

1. I hate to sound like a broken record because this is always my frugal tip, but by buying used I drastically reduced the cost of my computer. The Mac store offers Apple certified refurbished products that include a warranty.

2. This brings me to my next tip, which is to have a warranty. Apple Care offers an additional 2 years to the one that comes with a new computer for a total of a 3 year warranty. If you do not have a warranty and you need any repairs they will rake you over the coals with cost of parts and labor. I know as a froogie it is hard to spend money on something that you may never need, but it is the wisest choice in the long run.

3. Always check for hidden discounts. The Mac store offers great student discounts. At the time I purchased apple care for my laptop I was enrolled in a correspondence program and was able to get the discount, which saved me about a hundred dollars. It is always a good idea when making a purchase to check if you are eligible for a discount. Whether it is military or senior citizen you would be surprised how many opportunities for savings are out there.

On top of these 3 savings I also use my computer as a tax write off for my business. You may not be able to do this for all of your electronics, but if you are self-employed in anyway it is definitely something to consider. In the end I did spend a good chunk of change for my laptop, however I think it is important to remember that being cheap and being frugal are two very different things.

The Digital Camera

In 2001 my husband was so excited about the gift he got me for my birthday that he just had to give it to me early. It was my first digital camera, a Kodak DX3500 and it had a whopping 2.2 mega pixels.

I had seen the commercials, and to think that you could take a picture and see what it looks like immediately was absolutely astonishing! This was truly state of the art. I was the only person I knew that had one at that time and it was my most prized possession.

Before then I went through a lot of disposable cameras. Having only 24 photos was never the right amount. I either ended up shooting random things just to use up the film and get it developed, or I would run out and not get to capture everything I wanted to. The digital camera is what made me realize my passion for photography, which is ironic because I had previously made fun of photographers saying that they were wannabe artist that couldn't draw. Now I am one, and I can draw too, but did I mention I am horrible with directions?

Even though the digital camera has actually been around for over ten years, it wasn't widely observed by professional photographers or the average consumer up until the turn of the century. Even then I have heard much skepticism in my career as to whether or not a digital camera can compete with film. I think the digital arena has pretty well proved itself by now, although there are still a few protesters remaining that will probably go to the grave with their 35 millimeters in one hand and high speed film in the other. I think that film and dark rooms will always be a beautiful art form. Kind of like horseback riding, it's great, but most people these days use other modes of transportation to get where they need to go.

MP3

Since I am already being accused of sounding old (since my post about texting) I will go ahead and confess everything right now. I remember the days of cassette tapes and I remember when CD's made their debut. My first CD was the Lion King Sound Track. About 8 years later I got my first MP3 player. My husband got it for my old 93 Volvo. It worked great for a while there. Then he felt like this new media form couldn't perform at it's fullest potential until we got a new sound system. So for my birthday he got me some new speakers, which he did his best to install himself. This resulted in another unfinished project leaving us with no speakers, therefor no music in the car at all, for years. However, since I have had my new car, my husband made up for the failed gift of speakers by getting me an ipod for my birthday this year.

Who would have thought music would become invisible. If you think about it music isn't something you touch it is something you hear. However it doesn't feel that way after going through the record player era, then the 8 track, cassettes, and CD's. These were all things which were tangible objects you could see and hold. Now everything is digital. I haven't bought an actual CD in years. I purchase music on itunes without ever interacting with anyone. Somehow the invisible money is transferred from my account to the seller, and even with an unplugged computer the music miraculously travels through space and is downloaded onto my laptop where I can transfer it to my ipod and play it through the stereo in my car. It really baffles me.

The advantages of the mp3 are that you can now listen to music on the go without the bulk of a walkman. Instead of carrying around a CD case or dealing with multiple disc changers, you can hold thousands of songs in the palm of your hand. If you only like one song on an album you can just buy it for $1.00 instead of wasting your money on the entire CD. As far as scratching and damages go, as long as you have your music backed up it is virtually indestructible. Does it get any better than this? I am sure they will come with something. They always do.

GPS

Having GPS (global positioning system) in cars, may not have changed the world, but it has changed my life and done wonders for my relationship with my husband. You see, I am directionally challenged. For anyone that thinks that they are bad with directions, hang out with me. You will feel better about your navigational skills in no time, because I could get lost in a one bedroom apartment. One time my mother and I were driving from Atlanta to Dallas. It was my turn at the wheel so that she could sleep and recharge. When she woke up I had taken us 4 hours in the wrong direction. That is just one of many many examples that I could share.

I have only had GPS in my car for 2 months, but I am hooked. I was blessed with this little gadget by a friend of mine who received 2 for her birthday and knew that if anyone could get use out of her surplus it would be me. Thank you friend. Before I had Nyobi (that is what I call my little gadget) my husband was my GPS. He is a walking Atlas. After countless times of me calling him when I was frantically lost and him trying to figure out how I manage to get so far away from the intended destination he started to strongly encourage me not to go anywhere. This logic was taking a toll on our relationship.

Now that I have Nyobi, I can just type in the address and she tells me exactly when and where to turn. If I don't listen then she just reroutes, which is my favorite part. I used to get lost using google map print outs, because I would miss a turn and get all mixed up. That is no longer a problem. So I am much more mobile, which is good since I am a photographer that only shoots on location! So that is how GPS has changed my life and my marriage. Thank you Nyobi, thank you.

Look Back and Laugh: The Generation Gap

This week I am talking about how much technology has changed over the past 10 years, but obviously even more has changed in 87 years.

I was working on an assignment where I had to photograph an 87 year old man at a church that is 155 years old. I called the man to get directions to the church he told me to look at my county map. When I told him that I did not have a county map he just couldn't get over it. "You shouldn't be going anywhere without the county map" he emphatically replied.
"Well, sir if you could just give me the directions I can look it up online." I really didn't know where to go from there.
"oh, you ain't gonna find it online" he said.
He just couldn't get over the fact that I did not have a county map and he lectured me some more, but eventually gave me directions by way of landmarks, and cemeteries.

When I arrived the day of the shoot the pastor of the church came out to greet me. He also seemed advanced in years and when he saw my equipment he asked what kind of camera I was using.
I tried to talk slowly and loud enough for him to understand-
"This is called the Canon 20D. It's DIGITAL."
I smiled at him with his squinty eyes looking over my newfangled contraption. His response had me floored.

"The 20D huh? That is pretty cool, I read some really great reviews about it. I have the XTI. I used to have a NikonD40 , but I sold it on ebay."

Well, I'll be darned. It was quite a humbling experience. They were both really great guys with some very touching stories and a lot of wisdom. Maybe some day that pastor could teach me a thing or two about how to sell stuff on Ebay.

Texting

This week I am talking about the technology that has shaped our culture over the past ten years. Cell phones have been around since the eighties, but text messaging on the other hand, has only recently become such a global sensation.
I know that my views on texting might make me uncool, but I will do my best to make up for it in other areas.

I like what Jay Leno had to say about texting in his interview with Dakota Fanning:

"It seems to me like the BlackBerry should have come first and then someone goes, wait a minute you don’t have to type anymore you can now talk and the other person can hear you."

Communication has many levels. The optimal form is through engaging in conversation in person. You get visual, verbal, even the physical aspects of what someone is trying to say. When you talk on the phone you loose the visual and physical aspects, but you still hear the inflection of the voice. You take the verbal away and you are pretty much destined for a miscommunication. This applies to blogging as well.

I am horrible at texting. Let's say I get a text that says

"CU at the party Fri"

once I decode the message I would like to text back something like

"I am not going to be able to make it because my parents are coming into town and I will be picking them up from the airport."

I can't say that though, because by the time I get done texting the party would be over so instead my response is

"no"

My other texting gripe is people that try to discretely text while at work, church, or in conversation. I guess they think that if they hold their phone down by their thigh and casually glance at it while typing out responses that no will see them? Wrong! I am sure that teacher's can hear me on this one.

Then there is the texting while driving. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? For my dear friends and loved ones that have done this I apologize, let me rephrase that- Are you kidding me!? Driving while talking on the phone is already questionable, so who thought it would be better to have your hands manipulating buttons, typing and reading, while operating a motorized vehicle. This is an epidemic that is costing people their lives, and that just doesn't make sense to me!

Don't get me wrong, texting is not all bad, and if you are an avid texter, I say more power to ya. I might catch up with the trend some day and 10 years from now I will be the one with the SMS addiction, but by that time the trend will probably have moved on to something more progressive, like Morris Code.

Tackling Technology

* This message was originally written on Sunday, November 17.*

I have been having some trouble with my laptop and it is now in the possession of the mac geniuses at the apple store and so I am writing this blog using pen and paper to later post online. Would it be an over exaggeration to say I feel like a cave woman? Yeah, I thought so too. It is amazing though how technology has changed so much in the past few years and now I can hardly remember how I ever even functioned before.

I missed a photo shoot yesterday because I had it scheduled on my calendar which is on my computer, which I do not have. I know, I know, I should have had a back up, but I didn't and all I can do now is hope that I am not forgetting anything else that I had logged on my laptop. You may not realize how much you use your, computer, cell phone, tivo etc. until one of them fritzes out on you. In fact there is a pretty substantial list of gadgets that have come out on the market in the past 10 years that have revolutionized our culture and our way of living. I am not saying that it has all been for the good, but either way it is undeniable. That is why this week I am talking about technology. Given that I have access to a computer that is.

November 2000

November 4, 2000 we were married. It was the greatest moment of my life. I surprised him with a poem I had written and he surprised me with a song. They both ended with the words “love come true.” It was a total coincidence, I guess it was just meant to be.
At the time I wrote all those things in my journal I would have never thought in a million years that Jeremy would be my husband. I really truly would have thought I had a better chance of becoming ballerina and I have never taken ballet. It just reminds me that you never know what God has in store. It’s been 8 years and we are just getting started. I will leave you with the words that we wrote for each other and shared at our wedding, and then I need to go get a tissue, because this is all just too much!

Natalie’s Poem-

I could dream a million dreams of when I’d say these vows
but not one could compare to the way that I feel now

Can feel my heart beat do you see my eyes gleaming
father why am I so lucky tell me I’m not dreaming.

At the end of this aisle is the one that I adore
who makes the earth seem richer than it’s ever been before

Forever lingers in our minds, forever is our destiny
forever I will smile, every time he kisses me

So now it’s time to take a step and finally say I do
to the one who is and always will be a love come true


Jeremy’s song-

I love to hold you in my arms. Because they were made for you
and it’s been that way all along, but it’s like I never knew.

You were made for me and I was made for you
All part of the puzzle you see, making the picture complete

I love to be held in your arms, because I belong to you
and it’s been that way all along, but it’s like you never knew.

I would die for you, I would pay any price
superficial love won’t do, you will be the love of my life.

I love to hold you in my arms, because they were made for you
and it’s been that way all along you’re my love come true.

You’re my love come true.

CVS this week

I got almost $40 worth of stuff for under a dollar and still have about $15 ECB's left. After a couple bum weeks, I am happy with this purchase and I am eagerly anticipating tomorrow because I got a $5/$30 Q in my inbox. I will let you know how that goes.

L'Oreal Advanced Revitalift $11.99 -$1.00 Q
Smart Water $1.59
2 Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate .50 -B1/G1 Free Q
1 Garnier smooth and sleek hair care $2.99 -$1.00 Q
2 Listerene $3.99 each-$1 Q
1 Crest Pro Health- $3.49 -$1 Q

Total after, sales, coupons, and ECB's- $.94
Total amount saved - $37.32

Beat that Dollar Tree!!!

Finally

The Messy Mom's Love Story Part 5

It’s funny how love has a hard time conforming to our demands. That’s how it was for Jeremy and I, no matter how hard we tried to just be friends we were still head over heels in love. By this time I was 18, our parents and our pastor were aware of what was going on and we were very open with them about it.

In July of 2000 Jeremy talked to my dad about marrying me. My dad has always been VERY protective of me. He had 3 sons and I was his only daughter. I was the princess. He never like me dating and even threatened one of my boyfriends. Under different circumstances this could have been a volatile situation, but Jeremy was already like a son to my dad. My dad had already seen this coming and prayed about it before the conversation even came up. My dad willingly gave Jeremy his blessings.

For Jeremy’s birthday that year he had his mother call me and tell me that they were throwing him a surprise party and gave me an address in Fort Worth that I needed to bring him to. It was supposedly a nice restaurant so I got all dressed up, but I had no idea that the surprise was really on me. The address was for the Botanic Gardens in Fort Worth. I had never been there before, and I didn’t see any restaurants, but I still had no idea what was happening. Jeremy said “I think it’s over here” leading me to a balcony overlooking the rose gardens. It was there that he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes and he put the ring on my finger.

My parents were moving to Louisville that December. So we set the date for November, leaving us less than 4 months to plan a wedding. None of that mattered to me though. I just wanted to be with him, I wanted to be his wife, forever.

Continue to Part 6

Froogie Boogie: Romantic getaway for $100

I know the ultimate romantic getaway would probably be a flight or a cruise to an exotic island, but for most of us this just isn't realistic. That doesn't mean you can't escape with your spouse for a day or two and make the most of it. My all time favorite anniversary was when we celebrated 5 years. We went to Fort Worth which is less than an hour from where we live and we stayed at the Renaissance Hotel. Our hotel room (actually rooms) was a luxurious suite with the ultimate view. The bell hop took all of our luggage for us and moments after we checked in we were greeted with roses and chocolate covered strawberries. We ate our little delicacies on the hotel balcony and watched the sun set over the Bass Performance Hall. It was an evening fit for royalty and we did it all for under $100. I can only give credit to the favor of the Lord for this special get away, however I will also give some tips on how it was possible and what you can do to cut down on the cost of an anniversary celebration.

1.Stay close- Avoid spending extra money on gas or a plane ticket, by finding a near by location to celebrate the special occasion.

2.www.priceline.com- We were able to score a 4 star hotel for $80.00 My family and I use priceline every where we go and have had great success. You don't get to choose your hotel, but you can control the location, the price, and the star ratings.

3. Share Your Excitement- Don't be shy about the special occasion. Whether it's an anniversary, honeymoon, or birthday. We just mentioned to the hotel that we were staying at about our 5 year anniversary, and that is how we got the upgrade on the room. It took our breath away, it was absolutely phenomenal! My mom who works for the airlines says that they have bumped people to first class when they learned it was a couple on their honeymoon or anniversary. So, don't expect it, but also don't be afraid to be vocal about what you are celebrating, because you never know who is listening.

4. Bring momentous- One thing that makes an anniversary so special is just remembering all the good times. Bring special photos, love letters, or wedding keepsakes and go through the memberbelia together. It is romantic, it's fun, and it doesn't cost a thing.

5. Have a picnic- We followed our fancy hotel stay with a picnic in the park the next day. We fed the ducks, and just enjoyed each others company. It's a way to still do something that is special without paying for high dollar cuisine.


No more excuses not to live it up with your hubby. You don't have to spend a fortune to have a little romantic escape.

The Moment That Everything Changed

The Messy Mom Love Story Part 4

Here is yet another journal entry. Just to fill in some of the gaps here *Craig, we’ll call him, is a guy that had been interested in me. We had gone out a few times, and he was perfect boyfriend material, but I just never felt connected with him.

February 15, 2000
“Yesterday was absolutely horrible. I had no valentine and was exhausted from working ALL WEEKEND. I got home from school and I just went in my room and cried. Then my mom came in and told me I had a visitor. It was *Craig so I tried to pull myself together and went out there, and we talked for a long time.
You know what? I know I’ve been acting weird and emotional. I’ve just felt different lately. So I am going to leave out all of the details of my lame teenage life for just a moment. I may get to talking about it all sooner or later, but for now I am just going to write.
Jeremy is sick tonight. He just has the flu, but I feel bad for him. I know I have said a lot of mean things about him but he is the greatest guy I have ever known (or at least one of). I love him very much in a way that I cannot explain. It’s not romantic love, or brotherly love, or even friendly love, I don’t know what it is but I care about him a lot and it kills me to see him sick.”


So that was it, that was the moment that everything changed February 15, 2000. There I was just scribbling away as usual and suddenly, I just couldn’t do it anymore. Jeremy felt bad and I felt bad for him, deeply.

I would have never remembered any of that or even known that it had happened if I hadn’t written it down. It was about a month later that things came out in the open between Jeremy and I. We talked about our feelings for one another and how it could never happen. I was a couple months shy of 18, I was still just a girl in the youth group. He was the 24 year old worship leader. So we decided we would remain just friends, but of course it’s not that simple.

Continue to Part 4

City of the Month #3: Hot Springs Arkansas

For the November "City of the Month" I am going to warm up with a look at Hot Springs Arkansas. This city has a special place in my heart because it is where my husband and I went for our honeymoon in November of 2000.

I would think the name speaks for itself, Hot Springs is known for it's hot springs! There are 47 in all and they run through the mountains at a temperature of 143 degrees. Among just being relaxing and refreshing the mineral waters also have a reputation for their healing properties. That is why there were so many bath houses built there.

Bath house row is a street in downtown Arkansas featuring eight historical buildings used for spa treatments in the early 1900's . The Buck Staff Bath House is the only remaining functioning bath house and has been in operation since 1912. It is basically like going to an old fashioned spa. They have separate floors for men and women. Bathing Suits are optional, but no one wears them. They wrap you with a toga and you can wear that going from one therapeutic service to the next. The water used in all of the baths comes directly from the natural underground reservoir and it is so relaxing. I received my very first professional massage when I was there on my honeymoon. You can have over an hour of pampering for $50! The Buck Staff Bath house is an indulgence you can't find anywhere else.

The thermal springs and the bathhouse row are just two landmarks among many in Hot Springs Arkansas. I could go on and on, but I will just say that the historical Gables Inn Bed Breakfast is where we stayed on our honeymoon and it was very nice. They offer package deals with your room to include many of the local attractions at a discounted rate. This is how we were able to do the bath house, horse back riding, a view of the fall foliage from the magazine tower, and romantic dinners on the lake.

I don't know if I can keep up with these city reviews, I get an itch to travel. All these memories of Hot Springs makes me want to drop everything and go there right now!


Horse Back Riding in the Mountains of Hot Spring on our honey moon (November 2000)


Back for a visit in January of 2008 with our 4 month old

Jealousy

The Messy Mom Love Story Part 3 (1999-2000)

I may have had my little relationships throughout high school, but that is not to say that Jeremy didn’t have his own love triangle. Women flocked to him and he didn’t exactly shy away from the attention. And for someone who had no feelings for him whatsoever, I sure did let it bother me. In fact half the time my feelings toward him were nothing short of hostile. I think you would define what we had as a love hate relationship. I got a diary for Christmas that year and I vented all my frustrations through sporadic scribbles in my journal.

I don't think there is any better way to tell this part of the story than to let my scribbles speak for themselves . If they don’t make sense it’s because I was a very confused 17 year old trying to deny the fact that I was jelouse of Jeremy hanging out with another girl, who for the purposes of this blog we will call Christy. It's all a little embarrassing, but it's a true story and I am putting it out there word for word.

1-03-00
“Today we saw Toy Story 2 for the second time and Jeremy came with us. Jeremy is so weird. I love him but sometimes I just wish I could figure him out. He will be really cool to me one day and ignore me the next. Right now he is fine, but he never tells me what he is doing. Not that it is any of my business, but it just seems like it wouldn’t be that big of a deal."

1-07-00
“Today Jeremy and some other friends were over and I will admit they get on my nerves a lot. I guess because Jeremy and I used to be close but now it’s all just a joke. We make shots at each other and that is like our whole relationship.”

1-18-00
“Jeremy and Christy were over again and they are really close now. I doubt they would ever admit to it being anything more than friends but, I don’t know, either way I say take your flirtiness and get out of my house with it. Okay I understand I am being mean, but I have a good explanation if I could get into it.”

1-25-00
“Today Jeremy was fairly nice to me. He apologized for being rude and it made me want to cry. I still think he hates me though.”

1-30-00
“Jeremy and I are cool now. We went shopping together after school and talked a lot about him and Christy and whey they get on my nerves sometimes."

2-08-00
“On Friday Jeremy and Christy were as clingy as ever. Everything is cleared up between me and them, but I have to admit I still get very annoyed by them. My mom doesn’t understand why I am bitter but she doesn’t see the same side of Jeremy as I do, but don’t get me wrong I love the guy to death and I would do anything for him.”

I am well aware of how ridiculous I sounded, but I do appreciate the honesty, passion, and intensity of my emotions back then. Unfortunately it was all overshadow by a heap of confusion. I guess sometimes that's just the way love is.
The next journal entry changes everything!

Click here for part 4

Preserving Memories

Works For Me Wednesday


A part of my "reversed New Year's Resolution" was to have a digital back up of my wedding photos incase anything every happened to them. I know it feels like digital photos have been around forever, but if you have any memories that were photographed 8 or more years ago, chances are they are on film. You might want to consider scanning the film or the photos and making a photo CD.

Perhaps you have scanner at home that works for you That's probably the easiest route, but if you are like me and you are not happy with the quality of your home scanner or you don't own one then don't worry, you do have other options.

I went to 3 different stores searching for the best most economical way to have my wedding photos burned to a CD, and here is the run through of my experience.

CVS- They told me that there was no possible way for me to put my photos on a CD. I could scan and print or I could have a CD of digital photos, but that is all. I am sure all stores are different, but I was entirely disappointed with this particular stores service.

Walgreen's- Walgreen's charged $7.00 for me to scan and burn a CD and they only allowed a maximum of 24 photos on a CD. Then they wanted me to come back after several hours to pick up my CD. To me this was a complete rip off and in the end the 24 photos I did scan were low resolution and way too dark, I could have done this at home.

Walmart- I actually went back two different times to get what I needed, but in the end Walmart was what "worked for me"

The first time I used a Kodak scanning machine that would scan 20 photos at a time. This was such a convenient option for me having over a hundred photos. The problem was that the photos had green streaks across the print. One of the employees tried to clean the scanner, but it still didn't help. You may not be able to see the lines in this photo, but they were pretty obvious, so that didn't work.

My second try was another kodak machine that let you scan each one individually. This was very time consuming, but I was pleased with the quality and they allowed me to put over 100 photos on a CD. I didn't have to leave and come back like I did at Walgreen's and it is was only $3.00.

Going from store to store was quite a hassle, but I hope my experience helps anyone considering scanning there own photos. In the end it was all worth it to have my precious memories preserved and ready to edit, enlarge, and reprint.


*As a photographer I am well aware of the copyright laws. My wedding photos were not professional and therefore I was able to make duplicates. In order to duplicate any photos they must either be taken free of charge or have signed permission in a copyright release form.

All the others

The Messy Mom's Love story Part 2 (1997-1999)

The next few years Jeremy and I got to know one another a lot more. I was able to open up to him. This meant that I would tell him endless stories about the guys I liked that came in and out of my life. One after the other I would fall head over heals for some one other than Jeremy.

I dated musicians and athletes alike, I did not discriminate. I had a list in one of my school notebooks that was a frequently updated chart of the guys that I was interested in and in what order. Before I give off the wrong impression I should mention I was never seriously involved with any of them physically or emotionally, although with hormones raging my emotions were up for debate.

One time a guy broke up with me and I felt so upset I called my mom from school to tell her I was sick and needed to come home. She was working so she called the church to see if our pastor could help out. Who would show up to rescue the pitiful, broken hearted, 16 year old? None other than her dear friend Jeremy.

I pouted all the way home. Jeremy saw through my performance and said “you’re not really sick are you?” I broke down and told him everything. Little did I know that with each detail of my “love” life I was tormenting him. He had feelings for me, but he tried to put the idea out of his mind. I was too young, the circumstances were all wrong and it was not meant to be.

To Be Continued…

A quote from my diary, which makes me laugh now…

“Jeremy and I talked and it made me feel a lot better. I think that there is much more of an understanding between us now. He has made me realize a lot. We talked for a few hours. Time always flies when I am talking to Jeremy. Except, he thinks I shouldn’t date and I say maybe I won’t date anyone at this moment, but I am not totally anti-dating like Jeremy is.”



Click here for Part 3 

Look Back and Laugh at my parents dating

I wasn’t around for this one, but it’s still a cute story of a blossoming relationship. My parents, Richard and Nancy, were in their late teens when cupid struck. These days kids might, send a text or get an itunes gift card to express they’re deepest emotions to each other, but this was the 70’s and Nancy was sewing a shirt for Richard as a token of her affection. She bought special fabric with a classy duck pattern on it and spent hours double checking each measurement. She had sewn a lot of things before, but this time was different. She took extra special care to ensure that he would be impressed.

He was, he was thrilled! He tried it on right away and when he came out to model his new threads Nancy gasped. It fit great, but the print was upside down. She paid so much attention to every little detail she missed the fact that the ducks were flying upside down! Nancy broke down in tears, but Richard consoled her saying, “I think it’s perfect, they are all right side up when I look at them” which was true. It’s been over 30 years and they are still together to this day. So when life seems upside down just remember, it’s all how you look at it.

How I Met My Other Half

The Messy Mom's Love Story Part 1
(Summer 1997)

I was 15 when I moved to Texas. We joined a very small church south of Dallas and I was miserable.
Before I left my hometown in Atlanta a women at church told me that I would probably meet my husband in Dallas. “What a cruel thing to say” I thought. I hated Dallas. I would never love a Texan!

In the mean time Jeremy was a 21 year old college student, and part of a singing group, kind of like a christian boy band. He also became a part of the same very small church that I went to because they were in need of a volunteer worship leader and he was their answer to prayer.

When I met Jeremy my first impression was his sense of style. He had that 1990’s American Eagle look; sweater vest, carpenter jeans, and chunky Doc martin’s. His hair was parted down the middle and laid straight falling right at his cheek bones. He sang and played guitar, he was sensitive, popular, and most importantly he loved the Lord. The only mark I had against him was his disinterest in punk and ska music. Of course, don’t get me wrong, I didn’t see him as a candidate for a potential life partner. I was 15, and at the time 6 years was the equivalent of 2 decades. I always had some sort of admiration for him though. I even remember telling one of my friends “Jeremy is a really cool guy and if he wasn’t so OLD I’d marry him.”

TO BE CONTINUED…

Click here for Part 2

Messy Boy Meets a Messy Girl...Oooh it's the sweetest thing

A week ago my husband and I celebrated our 8th anniversary. It is kind of hard to believe that it has been that long, by Hollywood standards that is a lifetime. We celebrated by going to a Sushi Restaurant called Pirahanas and ordered a boat for two. Some of their signature sushi creations had very fitting names like Love At First Sight, and Marry Me roll (my favorite). I was able to give my husband a gift that was really just as much for me as it was for him. I retouched and reprinted our wedding photos. Then I put them in an album customized with our names and wedding date.

It was fun to look back and reminisce. It brought back a lot of memories about how we met, our short courtship, and why we are still perfect for each other. So I thought, what better time to blog about our love story? I will admit it may not be Shakespeare, not even close. In fact part of it I will be pulling directly from my High School journal. Hopefully it isn’t too boring. I am just a sucker for love stories in general. If anyone has any blog entries about how they met their spouse, or a purposal, or any of that sappy romantic stuff send me a link I would love to read it, and check back this week as I tell the story of how one messy found another.

Garnier Freebie

Right now at CVS there are many Garnier hair products on sale for $2.99 and you get $2.00 back in ECB's. There are LOTS of $1.00 coupons for these products including Today's paper (11-09-08). This makes the final price free after coupon and ECB's.
I thought this was a deal worth mentioning because first of all I doubt that any store will be sold out of ALL of the Garnier products consider there is a limit of 1 per household and it is a deal that lasts all week. Also you can get the corresponding coupon in almost any Red Plum insert.

I get a lot of free shampoo so I went for the leave in conditioner which is worth $5.89 regularly. That way I am getting the "most valuable" item for FREE!

Deals for the Week, blah

The deals have seemed so scarce lately. I went to Walgreen's, but that didn't work out at all, so I won't be posting that purchase. Here is what I got at CVS this week for $5.47...



Cascade dishwasher detergent- on sale for $2.50 -$1 Q
Gillette shaving cream- on sale for $1.99 - $.55 Q
9 Cadbury candy bars- on sale for $1.00
2 Hersday dark cholcolate bars- on sale for .50 cents - B1G1 Q
2 tubes of crest pro health toothpaste- $3.49 -2 $1.00 Q

Total= $17.47- $12.00 ECB's= $5.47 OOP

It's not my best deal ever, but I still saved $30 and I usually pay $1.99 for those Cadbury bars. They are my husbands favorites. The detergent and shaving gel were items I needed and I also earned all my ECB's back, so all in all it turned out to be worth it to spend over $5 (this is above my normal OOP). Hopefully I will get my Walgreen's rebates in the mail soon.

One last look at life as a mom

This week has just flown by! Between my anniversary, the election, my laptop breaking down, and fulfilling my every day duties as business owner, pastors wife, and mom (breath), I am happy to have even made it to Saturday evening. That's life though, especially life since I have become a mom. It seems like time has started moving at an accelerated pace. Everyone sees a new mom with a little one and they always say the same thing; "it goes by so fast." Whether they are reminiscing about their high school grad being a baby, or life before they became GREAT grandparents, it seems like everyone I talk to with children can agree that it feels like they grow up in the blink of an eye. For example here is my son this time last year


and here is how much he has changed in a year.



I just got done photographing a wedding and I have been gone the entire day. Baby Z and his dad are out right now, so I am going to take the time to slow down have some hot tea and chocolate while I read the poem that I wrote about my son for his first birthday, because it just goes by too fast.

Froogie Boogie Baby Edition

Doctors appointments: Hundred's of Dollars
Diapers: Hundred's of Dollars
Nursery Furniture: Hundred's of Dollars
Becoming a mom: Priceless...

Ah, the classic sentiment of the Master Card commercials, but for those that don't want to end up in debt over all the added expenses of parenthood I have some tips that have helped me drastically reduce my baby budget.

1. Breast feeding- For the millions of mom's that CAN breast feed their babies it is not only a healthy start for your little one, but a great way to save over $1,000 a year compared to the alternative .

2. Cloth Diapers- I know this one is scary to a lot of people, but they really are becoming more main stream. Once again there are multiple benefits here, you are helping the environment and saving at least $500 in the first year. I should also mention that we are not talking about the cloth diapers from the 1950's with the little safety pins. I use the Velcro one's and they are just as simple as a disposable, but cuter and washable.

3. Second Hand Clothes- Or 3rd or 4th for that matter. I am so grateful for my friends and family that have given me there old hand me downs. Thanks to baby Z's 3 boy cousins, one of which is just a year older than him, he has had a packed closet of cute clothes for every size and season. If you don't have people throwing clothes at you check out yards sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops. Gently used baby clothes are not hard to come by.

4. Grown Up Food- Obviously your baby isn't going to chow down on a fillet Mignon, but steer clear of the prepackaged baby convenience foods because there are simple alternatives that could save you quite a bit in the long run. Check out this video to see what I mean.

5. Simplify- Besides milk, Food, diapers, and clothes there is little else that a baby actually needs. Keep your budget low by simplifying. From Bumbos to Boppy's mothers are the prey of the consumer marketing industry. They want to do everything in their power to make you feel like you must have a $800 stroller or a wipes warmer, but can resist the urge to be sucked into the hype. Really think through what you want verses what your baby actually needs. I know I might look like a hypocrite if you have seen the video of my son's closet, because he has every baby gadget ever made, but all of it was previously owned and almost all of it was given to us. Once again, I am extremely grateful.

So those are my top 5 tips. I have thousands of dollars this past year and most of it will be an even bigger return when I use it all again for the next baby and that makes me one happy mama.

Why I love: H.E.B

I have to admit, shopping with a child is 10 times more difficult than when you are on your own, but thank you to H.E.B. for making it a lot easier. That is why this week's review is all about...


If you live in Texas and you have never shopped at H.E.B. you should definitely give it a try. Not only do they stock a wide range of organic and natural products, and great combination offers that allow you to get many items for free, but they also make my job of grocery shopping go as smoothly as possible. For starters they have shopping carts shaped like cars with steering wheels. This really helps entertain my son so that I can focus on the shopping. As he gets older I will be able to encourage good behavior by reminding him of Buddy Bucks. Buddy Bucks are play money that the cashier will offer your child when you check out. You insert your buddy buck in a toy crane arcade game located at the front of the store. My little one has just learned how to use a joy stick and he loves to push the button and watch the crane drop down. Instead of stuffed animals you receive a little plastic case with a sticker inside. That would be fun in and of itself, but it doesn't stop there. The stickers have point values and H.E.B. has score cards that you can tally up your points on to win prizes.

After you have played the crane game you are ready to head back to your car, but even this can be a tricky with little ones because once you get your children and groceries in the car you are stuck with a shopping cart. You don't want to leave your children unattended. What do you do? At H.E.B. they will assist you. There is someone to show you which line is shortest when you check out, someone to bag your groceries, and yes, someone to take your groceries out to your car and put your cart away. All things that can be a daunting tasks at stores like Target and Walmart.

I don't despise shopping with my son anymore. In fact I look forward to this special time together, and that is 'WHY I LOVE"
H.E. B.


Check out the H.E.B. website for a store locator and hebuddy for more about the buddy program and the prizes.